Yash-starrer ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ went to court over alleged defamatory and malicious online content surrounding the film. A Bengaluru civil court issued an ex-parte temporary injunction restricting the publication and circulation of allegedly false, malicious, defamatory or derogatory content concerning the film. The order was passed on August 22, days before the film’s release.Now, post the film’s release and its record-breaking box office debut, surpassing Rs 100 crore, various social media posts doing the rounds online, allege that the makers are now sending various content creators legal notices over their posts on the film.
YouTuber receives legal notice
YouTuber Suraj Kumar has reportedly received a legal notice over his post on the Yash-starrer. A screenshot of the alleged notice has been circulating online. It begins with: “We issue this notice on behalf of our client, KVN Monster Mind Creations LLP, the producer and copyright owner of the cinematograph film titled ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’ (‘Film’)”Taking to his handle, @Surajkumarrevi1 he posed the screenshot and wrote, “Thank You Team #Toxic For the Legal Notice on My Review.”The notice further states: “It has come to the notice of our client that you have published, circulated, shared, posted and/or online media. The URL(s) presently identified in connection with such activity are set out below:”A tweet from @itisprashanth made the same allegation saying, “Got legal notice from @TheNameIsYash and @KvnProductions for #Toxic review. I thought he is all macho in real life as well. Looks like he is just another rich and influential person!”The allegations and claims made in the social media posts referenced above are unverified and have not been independently corroborated.
About the court order on ‘Toxic’
While the order restricts allegedly ‘false, malicious, defamatory or derogatory material’, it does not amount to a blanket ban on reviews or opinions about the film.The Additional City Civil and Sessions Court passed the interim order on a suit filed by production house KVN Productions LLP against several defendants, including X Corp. The case also names a ‘John Doe’ defendant, representing unidentified individuals who may allegedly circulate such content online.The court said that the material presented by the production house established a prima facie case in its favour.“On perusal of all the documents produced by the plaintiff, I found that there is a prima facie case in favour of the plaintiff, the balance of convenience lies in favour of plaintiff. If the T.I (Temporary Injunction) is not granted, the very purpose of filing this suit will be defeated and it may amount to a multiplicity of proceedings. Therefore, without allowing the IA (Interlocutory Application) No. 1, as interim measure for the limited period T.I can be granted on certain conditions,” the Judge said in the order.The court subsequently directed that the defendants be restrained from sharing or circulating material deemed false, malicious or defamatory in connection with Toxic.“Hence, issuing exparte temporary injunction order against the defendants from communicating, publishing, circulating, sharing, posting, streaming, providing access to or otherwise communicating in any kind of media anything false malicious, defamatory, derogatory, news concerning to film ‘Toxic’; either prior or after its release,” it added.However, the order does not prohibit genuine reviews or criticism of the film.
Toxic injunction to remain in force until September 28
The court has specified that the temporary injunction will remain in force only until the next date of hearing, scheduled for September 28.The court has also clarified that the order cannot be used for any purpose other than the one for which it was granted. Further, if the plaintiff fails to comply with the conditions imposed by the court, the temporary injunction will stand vacated without any further notice.